What's Wrong With Boro?

Its been about six weeks since I had the fire in my belly to write about Middlesbrough again after a series of drab performances over the past couple of months but it came to a head today - a royal spanking by Reading and the departure of Kris Boyd caused me to pick up my pen, so to speak.

Saturday's game, if anything, highlighted just what's wrong with Boro. No squad depth, no creativity, no idea how to defend, no experience. I despaired hearing how time and time again our defence was carved open and how Grounds and Hines could not cope. When the fifth goal went in I thought back to our 8-1 mauling of Manchester City and how their fans felt - as I was feeling very similar.

Asset Stripping

At every opportunity Boro seem to be selling. This season we have already seen David Wheater and Gary O'Neil disappear off to the Premiership, and now another player sneaks out of the back door... Kris Boyd. Kris has hardly set the world alight at Boro but 5th place Nottingham Forest obviously see something in the SPL all time leading goalscorer.

There are two things that really worry me about the departure of Boyd:

1. How is it that Middlesbrough are unable to afford to bring in a loan keeper without having to trade out a striker?
2. What if Boyd goes and scores a bag load of goals at Forest? What does that say about the coaches at our club?

Only time will tell with regards point 2, but I do worry how we are so skint that we need to loan out before we can loan in. What I would like is Steve Gibson to come out and tell us, the fans, what is actually going on at the club. We need a rallying call from the boss, but all that is coming out of the Boro boardroom is silence.

The big 'r'

Middlesbrough have been consistent over the past two seasons if anything - and that has been selling players. As we have sold more players our position has dropped down and down the league. An obvious trend, but not one that the Chairman has spotted which is a worry because if we get any worse we are going down.

Boro need to stop this constant fire sale, pull together, give the fans a reason to go to the games but with the departure of Boyd it really would indicate to me that our ambition is fading, and ambition is something that Boro always had in seasons gone by.

Paul Smith

Not the designer or lead singer of Maximo Park, but the Nottingham Forest keeper has signed for Middlesbrough on loan. Smith has played for Forest since 2006 and was part of the team the gained promotion from League 1 in 2008 winning the Puma Golden Glove in the process. He is also the scorer of the quickest League Cup goal, scoring in 23 seconds against Leicester City in 2008. Having fallen out of favour at Forest Smith was placed on the transfer list and told to find first team football elsewhere.

It may be too early for Smith to start tonight's game against Derby as he has not played a first team game since May, but hopefully over the coming matches he can help sort out a defence devoid of experience and quality and get us back to keeping clean sheets.

Boro's Promotion Hopes - They think it's all over... It is now

I'm sick to death of reading how we need to keep the faith, that promotion is still possible, and how we need to back the team. The latter is true, but just because something is mathematically possible it doesn't mean it's going to happen, and it isn't.

Personally when the Boro spin machine churns out the 'we can do it' messages I feel insulted. It’s like they think they can dupe you into still believing. I think Middlesbrough Football Club need to be looking at how to get fans to renew and come to the games next season rather than trying to con the fans into thinking our promotion campaign is still on.

£370 to sit in the North Stand next season (the early bird price), another price freeze - but I'm sorry, I really think that Steve Gibson has dropped a clanger... There are only so many seasons that you can pay nearly £400 based on 'blind faith', and I think after 4 seasons of dross the Boro fans are finally realising this. I would personally have gone for a £50 drop in season tickets prices, making the early bird price in the North Stand £320 - an offer that I'm sure would have had many doubters renewing straight away. Maybe if that wasn't practical throw in a half price shirt, or £20 to spend in the club shop - something... but alas, no.

There will be people who have already renewed, but these would have renewed even if the price had gone up - it’s the middle grounders that Boro need to convince - the ones who haven't been entertained, with families, that maybe have lost their jobs or have low incomes. Why should they renew? £370 is a week’s holiday, which after the season we have endured would be much more preferable if you had to choose one or the other.

My prediction is we will finish around 10th in the league this season, and will be facing regular sub 15,000 crowds at the Riverside next season unless something is done fast, and that might be reducing the renewal prices, or signing someone that will bring the crowds back - but who would that? - I don't even think Juninho could bring the fans back now.

The next few months are the most important since 1986, correct guidance could see Boro flourish next season, with 25,000 fans at every game, but if even more mistakes are made I dread to think of the consequences - relegation, administration - they are all possibilities. I hope I'm wrong, I hope we could somehow manage to get promoted, I hope we sell more tickets next season, but I'm a realist, I just can't see it happening.

Steve Gibson has talked the talk...

Steve Gibson has talked the talk, now he needs to walk the walk

Since we were relegated Steve Gibson has been telling us all that promotion is his aim, and that we must not fail in achieving this. First it was by automatic promotion, then as our form dived the talk from the club has switched to the playoffs, but with the end of the transfer window closing in on us fast is Middlesbrough Football Club’s aim just consolidation this season?

I am disappointed, and somewhat concerned with the lack of players coming in to improve the team, and bolster squad numbers. Currently we have let Mohammed Shawky, Didier Digard and Mark Yeates leave, with Marcus Bent also leaving having finished his loan spell – and the additions are Chris Killen, Willo Flood and Barry Robson. Four players out, three in, with a net loss of a midfield player - and now there is talk of Gary O’Neil leaving.

We still are dreadfully short up front, and we need to replace Yeates as soon as possible. We still lack creativity in midfield and any sort of goal threat from our strikers. I personally wouldn’t like to rely on Lita, Aliadiere and Killen for the rest of the season.

What I would like to see is Steve Gibson getting serious about signing some strikers with proven records. Jermaine Beckford, David Healy and Kris Boyd are all names that have been doing the rounds, but its money that seems to be the problem. So, come on Steve, show us you mean business and get your hand in your pocket.

I think the consequences of staying in the Championship are horrific for a club like Middlesbrough. If the Manchester City game was anything to go by we could be looking at 10,000 home fans being the average next season, and overall support for the manager, chairman and team being at an all time low. Something needs to be done, and it needs to be done before the 31st January 2010.

Should We Worry..?

I though I might try and work using averages of points scored, and previous league final standings to see if we have any chance of going up without divine intervention...

Averages...

Looking at a few stats from last two seasons in The Championship and our current performance we firstly, to gain automatic promotion in 2007/08 would have needed 76 points, and a play-off place would be 70 points... And for the 2008/09 season it was 81 and 74 respectively. Now what will be required this year? Well West Brom have played 23 and have 45 points, but not knowing how they will play for their remaining 23 games I'll just have to average out their points over 46 games, that figure being a massive 90 points. So we are looking at quite a tall order to get up there, probably requiring 80-90 for automatic promotion, and 70-80 for a play-off position.

So, how are we doing on our current form? Well we are currently on 32 points from 24 games, at an average of 1.3 points per game. Now that averaged out over the season would put us on 60 points, someway short of our target. Interestingly for the games that Gareth Southgate was in charge of (23 points from 13 games - average 1.8 ppg) the points gained averaged out over the course of the season would have us on 83 points - pretty much guaranteed in the play-offs...

What do we need...

Well for the play-offs we need say 75, which would be an extra 43 points over 22 games which equates to nearly 2 points per game, and promotion at say, 85 points would leave us requiring 53 points from 22 games at 2.4 points per game.

Strachan's points per game ratio is 9 points from 11 games at a rate of 0.8 points per game...

So, it will take us to get double the points under Strachan for the last 22 games if we are to come anywhere near, and obviously we will be taking points from the teams above us, so that will help... but its looking very unlikely that without a miraculous turn around in form that we can come near to the play-off positions. More worryingly still, if we continue at the same rate of points scored we will have 50 points come the end of the season, which last year would have placed us 21st (fourth from bottom) and only 4 points above relegation.

Can Strachan do it..?

I believe he can get near, if he brings in the right sort of players in January, and we shouldn't be in danger of going down. But, and its a big but, it is imperative that Steve Gibson backs him in January and we start picking up points against Swansea on the 9th Jan, at home.

What do you think..?

A bit of realism please...

I feel sorry for Gordon Strachan. He had the balls to take the poisoned chalice that is the Boro Manager’s job, and the fans repay him by shouting for his head after 6 games. I think this behaviour by a small section of the fans is pathetic and a disgrace.

Long gone are the days where Bryan Robson and Steve McClaren had the best Chairman in the league, were given money to compete for honours and given that luxury of time that all managers crave... unfortunately a certain Gareth Southgate spoiled all that. Now we are left with a club that is broke, impatient fans, relegation and the hope of promotion ebbing away on weekly basis. We are all aware of the events that have brought us to Championship football so we won't dwell on them too much, but one thing amazes me - Steve Gibson, with the help of Gareth Southgate have destroyed our beloved club yet some fans think the blame lies with Gordon Strachan.

Strachan, like Southgate, has inherited someone else's team. He has had six games. Just six. Southgate had three seasons. So why won't some fans give Strachan a chance? Even if we didn't get promoted how can that be Strachan's fault? He will be trying his utmost to get promoted, because he is a winner, but he only has the resources available to him that Southgate's tenure left. I think that this minority of fans forget this, that we are in the Championship because of Southgate, that we have no money because of Southgate's purchases (and McClaren's before him), and dwindling attendances again, because of relegation, due to Southgate.

So with all things considered above its not the great job it used to be - Gordon thought that he would get time at Boro, but with Gibson's recent form, and if attendances drop even further it will be interesting to see how much time he actually would have, especially if promotion is not secured. There will be a lack of funds for Strachan also - even if we go up I can't see Mr Gibson signing any more £12m cheques for Brazilians playing in average European leagues.

Southgate is reported to be starting legal proceedings against the club, as rightly he wants his payout. But for me this has far more reaching implications which might explain why he remained as manager for so long. Being an astute man Gareth will have known that if he resigned he would be due nothing, so did he hold out at the expense of the club just so he would be guaranteed his lump sum? I don't know, but it's all a bit convenient for me. So Gibson has been weak, he should have acted earlier and saved the club from relegation but decided to think of the financial implications of paying out twelve months wages, shame he didn't think about the implications of relegation.

I thought that Gibson would have learned from the relegation that you need to strong to avoid doing down, make changes when they need to be made, and also make sure everyone in the club knows who is boss. Unfortunately though, more weakness prevailed, and it was Huth and Tuncay who came out on top, Tuncay especially, throwing strops to make sure he got his move back to the Premier League. If you look at West Brom and Newcastle they haven't sold their key players like we have, and they are the teams that are walking away with automatic promotion places. Huth was immense in defence, and Tuncay made playing up front look easy in the Championship - these were the type of players that we should have kept. Never mind all this unity spin from Southgate that "we only want players who want to be here" rubbish, we don't want to stay in the Championship, and the clubs needs come before the players...

Now any fan must realise that if Gareth remained we might have got another striker, if that. Gibson was not keep to spend the money in the close season when he was publicly backing Southgate, and only £500,000 was spent, namely on Mark Yeates. That striker may have been the quality of Caleb Folan, as Gareth certainly isn't known for signing quality players so what position would be in if he had remained? Probably a similar position to where we find ourselves now. The amount of home games that we had lost was terrible - if we had continued at the same rate we would have lost at least 12 for the season, and that certainly isn't the form that keeps you one point off top.

What other legacies has Gareth left us with then? You could start with the departures of James Morrison and Lee Cattermole. Both players left and have made themselves first team regulars, both have played in the Premiership, and Morrison regularly at the top of the Championship. Could Gareth not improve these players, or have controlled them? Cattermole is the one that really annoys me - touted as a future England star, he has always shown passion and commitment, but ends up leaving for not much, and becomes a regular centre midfielder. Maybe if Gareth had played him in his position we might have reaped the benefits...

Southgate has also left us with many club records broken, and not the good ones... A £6m loss on Afonso Alves, discontent between the club and fans, fighting amongst fans torn by his three year tenure... There seems to be many negatives, but not many positives. So even with all of the above, fans certainly gave Gareth longer than six games (people are actually wanting him back!!!)... and that is what Strachan needs - time...

It seems like Mr Gibson has learned from his mistakes, and has employed a good, proven, experienced manager and it looks like he is prepared to back him financially. If we as fans are patient with the team at home, get behind them for at least beyond half time, maybe fill the stadium a little more we might be able to make a difference and rid Boro of this fear of playing at home. After all, we all want the same thing... promotion. And I'm sure that Gordon Strachan is working tirelessly to ensure that we have the best chance of going up, rather than holding on to the job waiting to be sacked for the big payday... I just hope that it’s not too late, and even if it is there are only two men to blame, and neither of them is Gordon Strachan.

Thanks for reading, and as always comments (good or bad) are always appreciated. Keep a look out on Twitter (@MFCFacebook) and check the links section of this blog for the Facebook MFC Fanpage.

Middlesbrough vs Blackpool 8/12/2009

Blackpool 3 - Boro 0

By Tim Ketteringham

Before the game there was a renewed atmosphere around the Riverside stadium, Boro were back after the 5-1 mauling of fellow promotion hopefuls QPR the previous Saturday. If we could win this game we would be back in the playoff mix and then looking to reign in the top two over the festive period. Blackpool, with only 1 win away all season (back in early September against a disjointed Nott’s Forest), would provide the opposition.

The game started with Boro lining up 4-4-2, with Johnson returning at the expense of Yeates after a family illness prevented him from travelling to London to face QPR. Blackpool, like most teams who visit the Riverside set up 4-5-1, with the well travelled Gary Taylor Fletcher leading the line.

The early exchanges were in Boro’s favour, but Blackpool’s tight shape prevented Boro breaking through. On a rare attack Johnson got free on the right hand side, fed the ball back to Williams who swung a cross in, which Kitson headed downward only to be saved by the keeper’s legs and spin away to safety.

Blackpool worked hard to keep pace with Boro in the first 20 minutes and it paid dividends when a long ball caught Boro cold. A diagonal ball was played out to the diminutive Branan on the wing and he slipped in side Williams before sliding in Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Boro still had chance to deal with the threat when Sean St Ledger had chance to clear his lines but his weak tackle meant Taylor-Fletcher looked up with the ball at his feet and his simple finish easily beat the on rushing Jones.

The Boro crowd groaned with discontent, but we could get back in this, we had to get back in this. Only the crowd believed this though as the players began to press the self destruct button, Blackpool running riot for the 5 minutes after the goal with Ormerod and the excellent Branan pushing on to support the very mobile Taylor-Fletcher. The crowd were incensed, as was Brad Jones in the Boro goal, Williams bearing the brunt of his, and the crowds, frustration.

Just when it seemed we were getting a foot on the ball again we switched off. Taylor-Fletcher stood arm aloft between the two centre backs and Branan, simply lofted the ball into him. Again Boro had time to clear, but again we tried to nip it of his toes, and once again it was left at his feet for him to slide it home.

The away fans were ecstatic, the home fans enraged. They players stood looking at each other, both Wheater and StLedger looking sheepish as they knew they had cost us the two first half goals.

We simply never recovered from this in the first half and the half petered out with not a single shot on goal since Kitson’s early header.

Half time: Boo’s and MFC 0 – 2 Blackpool

The second half began with McMahon coming on for Williams. Williams it seemed had paid the price for the poor first half display but in reality it could have been anyone of Wheater/StLedger or him. The crowd still sensed we might be able to get back into it with an early goal, and as the first 20 min of the second half passed Boro became more and more confident, without creating that elusive chance. Kitson went close when a sharp cross from Lita was steered just wide and then when Arca was shaping to shoot the ball was nipped of his toes. Surely the goal was coming…..

…it was. Blackpool continued to be a threat on the break moving both with and without the ball and the captain Charlie Adam broke free from his midfield position and beat a couple of weak challenges before excellently steering his shot inside Jones’ left hand post. Game over.

Mass exodus followed with thousands heading for the exists with disgruntled mumblings under their breath. Blackpool celebrated and how they deserved it.

Boro made 2 more substitutions when Gary O’Neil had to be stretchered off in what looked like a bad fall and the Yeates replacing the disappointing Arca. Yeates showed a great work ethic in his time on the pitch and created a couple of decent balls but the game was lost and again Blackpool sat back and soaked up what little attacking threat boro caused.

The final whistle came with a small boo, only because most people had left some 15 minutes before the end!

In summary, individual mistakes cost us goals but until we learn to break teams down at home we will struggle. We need to force teams back, take a gamble. It was all to defensive.

Only a couple of Boro players came out of the game with any credit, Mark Yeates for his enthusiasm and direct approach and Emmanuel Pogatetz for his excellent defending and commitment.

Man of the match: Branan (Blackpool) – caused Boro problems all night long with close control and slick passing.

Player Ratings

Jones - 5
Pogatetz – 6
Wheater – 4
StLedger – 3
Williams – 3
Arca – 4
O’Neil – 5
Osbourne – 5
Johnson – 5
Kitson – 5
Lita – 5

Subs
McMahon – 6
Yeates – 6
Digard – 6

Boro Man of the Match - None! Blackpool MoM was Branan
Attendance - 18,089
Game Highlight - The final whistle

Thanks for reading, and as always comments (good or bad) are always appreciated. Keep a look out on Twitter (@MFCFacebook) and check the links section of this blog for the Facebook MFC Fanpage.

Email Rants

Here are a few snippets from the various email conversations my fellow Boro fans and I have during the long tedious week at work... Please note that these aren't necessarily my views before I get slated for the anti-Gibson comments! Anyone agree with any of these thoughts?

Darren Bent & Steve Gibson

"Bent needs a run in the side before I pass judgement, I've only seen him play for about 70 mins - first game he looked pretty good, against Forest he was poor.

Gibson has made a massive error here you know, just looking at our front line the alarm bells should have been ringing! Now he's acted too late, and WGS is having to bring players in and hope the make an impact early doors, which is hard. Bent might have been all right if he had a pre-season, same with Folan, but now we are just chucking them on the pitch and hoping. Its not WGS's fault, what can he do? Its Gibson's and Southgate's, and it is gonna stop us going up in all likeliness. Gibson is a weak man, he should have got rid in Jan but never, that cost us our Prem League status, he should have sacked him at end of the season, but didn't, and that's gonna cost us promotion. From Hero to Zero in 3 seasons, cheers Steve, now jog on!

Gibson needs to spend about £10m to get us anywhere near promotion in Jan, people like Beckford and Hulse are who we should be looking to buy - PROVEN goalscorers... how many times has it being said? We need EXPERIENCE and players with PROVEN records!"

MFC's Half Season Ticket Money Back Offer (Link)

"Its annoyed me quite a bit actually - I know we aren't gonna win 4 games on the bounce so it won't affect us, and it might get a few more in (prob not that many more), but its the way MFC can only ever take REACTIVE action to any situation, rather than PROACTIVE action.

Prime example of this was Southgate, should have got sacked but we waited until we had lost 4 at home, this ST thing is another... if they were worried about attendance (which they should have been by keeping Southgate on) they should have dropped ST prices by 20% or something.

Obviously this way they won't lose any money cos we aint winning 4 on the bounce, but I think fans know this and there won't be that many that will fall for the ploy..."

Well as you can probably tell there is some annoyance with Boro in these two snippets, but what about the rest of the fans? Are they losing patience with the club? Please comment and let me know!

Thanks for reading, and as always comments (good or bad) are always appreciated. Keep a look out on Twitter (@MFCFacebook) and check the links section of this blog for the Facebook MFC Fanpage.